Senate Member

T.J. Shope is a resident of Coolidge, Arizona, and has long been active in the community. Born in Florence in 1985, Shope has lived in Coolidge for the overwhelming majority of his life and is a 2003 graduate of Coolidge High School and 2005 graduate of Central Arizona College, where he was recently inducted into the CAC Wall of Success. In 2008, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Arizona State University.

Elected to the Coolidge Unified School District Governing Board in 2008 and re-elected in 2012, he was voted to be the board’s vice-president upon taking office in 2009 and in 2013, was elected the board’s president and then re-elected again in 2016.

In the House of Representatives, Shope has served on the House Committee on Agriculture & Water, the House Committee on Energy, Environment & Natural Resources as well as the House Committee on Commerce. He currently serves as the Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, previously serving alongside Speaker J.D. Mesnard in the 53rd Arizona Legislature and now alongside Speaker Rusty Bowers in the 54th Arizona Legislature.

In addition to his role as Speaker Pro Tempore of the 54th Arizona Legislature, Mr. Shope will also serve as Chairman of both the House Committee on Ethics and the House Committee on Administration. He will also serve as the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Rules as well as a member of the House Committee on Education and the House Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water.

Shope is the proud son of former Coolidge Mayor Tom Shope and Luz Shope and co-owns their family business, Shope’s IGA Supermarket, in Coolidge. Additionally, he is proud to work with Arizona's small businesspeople as the Community Sales Development Officer for National Bank of Arizona.

Shope is recently engaged to Melissa Dus of Phoenix and is an active member of St. James Roman Catholic Church, the Central Arizona College Foundation Board of Directors, and the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance Board of Directors.